Unlike the season opener, Ohio State’s game on Saturday against Central Florida has the earmarks of a meeting of big men.And speaking for the big men on Ohio State’s defense, Johnathan Hankins is eager to get things started.

“I am definitely more excited,” Hankins said.

He has watched Central Florida’s 56-14 win over Akron last week and has seen the statistics that show the Golden Knights had a 100-yard rusher while quarterback Blake Bortles threw just 16 passes, completing 13. Those are more like classic Big Ten numbers than some of the pass-first approaches of many Conference USA schools.

“This offense showed they like to run the ball, some play-action, so (the quarterback) is going to be in the pocket a little bit longer,” Hankins said.

Through the offseason and preseason camp, the front four of Ohio State — John Simon, Garrett Goebel, Hankins and Nathan Williams, along with Michael Bennett and a host of others — were drawing notice as being among the elite units nationally. They were looking forward to showing how much more aggressive they were going to be in 2012.

Then in the opener, Miami University used quick passes to keep quarterback Zac Dysert out of harm’s way. The Buckeyes won 56-10, but it was not the kind of offense that a hungry defensive front could sink its teeth into.

“It was pretty frustrating that they didn’t run the ball as much as I thought they would,” Hankins said. “But I had two tackles, and on those two tackles I made sure that once I got there, I delivered a blow.”

Another plus was having the whole gang back together at times. Williams, an end, played for the first time since the season opener last year. Soon after that, he had microfracture knee surgery.

“With him, and Johnny, and me and Garrett — when we’re all on the field, it’s just like a sense of relaxation, that we know everything is going to happen, everybody is going to do their job,” Hankins said. “With him in the lineup, it’s just great for us.”

Williams was sore afterward, and how much he can play on Saturday remains to be seen. But if Central Florida plays like it did last week, its offense is tailored to what the Ohio State defensive front thinks is its strength: stopping the run and then getting after the quarterback.

“They’re a physical team, and we’re excited for the challenge,” Simon said. “It’s going to be a tough game for us.”

The Golden Knights have a Big Ten-looking line, with 300-pounders almost across the board.

“We’re definitely going to have to attack,” Simon said. “They’re a very good offensive line, very big guys, very quick for their size, very good scheme. So it’s going to be up to the D-line to set the statement, and we’re going to have to stop that run game.”

It almost seems as if this will be a delayed start for the front four.

“They like to run the ball, they’ve got a great group of running backs, they’re very versatile,” Simon said. “The game is going to be won in the trenches.”